Can you take a 240v 20a garage outlet number 12 with 4 wires and split it into two 120v circuits while still keeping the 240v outlet?

Answer 1

for USA, Canada and countries using similar 60Hz mains suppliesI'm not sure if the National Electrical Code is okay with it, but it is possible. Make sure you have a 20 Amp Double Pole breaker in the panel. Then, at the 240V outlet: You may need more room to accomodate all the wiring, so get a box extension, or if possible, upgrade to a larger box or use a junction box before the 240V outlet. Okay, Take the incoming neutral wire and connect it to the 2 120V circuits and to the 240V outlet. Connect the incoming red hot wire to a black 120V hot wire. Connect the 240V Black hot wire to the other 120V's hot wire. Connect all the ground wires together. Make sure that the box is grounded as well. Here's a simple formula for calculating the current you can use. Remember that the 120V circuits take current from one leg or the other, while the 240V Circuit takes from both. Since you have 2 120V 20A circuits, multiply the amps of the equipment you can use by 1. Now, multiply the 240V equipment's amps by 2. Add the values together. The value should be less than 32, and definitely not higher than 40.

I recommend installing a 120/240V twistlok plug in the box. Then you can plug whatever you want into it. I made a nice distribution panel with 15A breakers for when I want 120V, and 240 can plug in directly. ( I use this method to power my Christmas lights. 2kW. :P)

IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY SURE YOU CAN DO THIS JOB

SAFELY AND COMPETENTLY

REFER THIS WORK TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

If you do this work yourself, always turn off the powerat the breaker box/fuse panel BEFORE you attempt to do any work AND always use a meter or voltage indicator to insure the circuit is, in fact, de-energized.

If there are only 3 wires entering the box, you can't legally do it. You can not use the same wire for a neutral and a protective ground. The 3 wires are the two hot phases and the protective ground.

If there are 4 wires in the box, or if metal conduit provides the protective ground in addition to 3 wires, you can do it, provided the breaker is a double pole breaker. The white wire is the neutral, the bare one is the protective ground

Answer 2

Yes you can, BUT IT IS DANGEROUS!!! You can use one side of the breaker to wire an outlet but if the outlet or the appliance you plug into the outlet shorts out, the breaker may not trip. Only half of the breaker will try to trip and the other half will not know to do the same therefore you could over heat the circuits and cause a fire. NOT A GOOD IDEA. That is a stupid answer, you cannot wire one side of a breaker. IT WILL NOT TRIP !!!! SO IT COULD CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE ELECTROCUTED.

Answer 3

yes, a 240 v circuit normally has 2 120 volt legs which are opposite phases and a neutral wire, there will be 120 volts between either hot wire and the neutral and 240 volts between the two hot wires.

Answer 4

You don't, just replace the 40amp breaker with two 20amp breakers, now you should have a black 120v 20amp hot, and a red 120v 20amp hot. Do not use the 40amp

double pole breaker. You can just tie your neutrals together for the wire that is going out from the existing wire and you have two 12/2 w ground wire that you can run anywhere.

Answer 5

You can. This is called California Split wiring because of its popularity there. You bring the 12/3 romex into the junction box. Wire the top receptacle's hot prong to the red wire, the bottom receptacle's hot prong to the black and both receptacles' neutrals to the white.

The only place you CAN'T use California Split is if the circuit has any GFCIs on it. You'll negate the protection from the GFCI by hooking it up on both legs.

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What the first answer neglected to tell you is if you wire the duplex receptacle like it is suggested the breaker will trip instantaneously. There is a common tie bar between the upper outlet and the lower outlet that has to be removed. Only one neutral is needed to the duplex receptacle because they are also common tied with a bar from the top outlet to the bottom outlet.

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Answer 6

Yes, you can split a 240V outlet with 4 wires into two separate 120V circuits. You will need to install a double-pole breaker at the main panel to split the circuit. Ensure proper wiring and connections are made to maintain the 240V outlet and create two 120V circuits. It's recommended to consult with an electrician to ensure safety and compliance with electrical codes.

Answer 7

no, call a qualified electrician